Oyster-dredging machine.



APPLICATION TILED JAN. 23, 1911.

- Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

ATTORNEYS WITNESSES (a QMM COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO..WASHINGTON. D. c,

N. A. LYBEGK.

OYSTER DREDGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED mums, 1911.

1 ,07027 1 v Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

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N. A. LYBEGK. 7 OYSTER DREDGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 23, 1911.

1,070,27 1 Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

. 04 INI/ENTOR w 11 120 204 1 0 I G 304 209* fldnlljyh'aii ATTORNEYSLUMBIA PuNoGRAPH 60.. WASHINGTON. D. C

N. A. LYBECK..

OYSTER DREDGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 23, 1911. 1,070,271. Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

ATTORNEYS WITNESSES MQW I sa s N. A. LY BEGK. v OYSTER 'DRBDGINGMACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 23, 1911. I 1 070 271 Patented Aug. 12,1913.

INVENTOR v JVelfllyecfi AITORNEVS 9 SHEETS-SHEET 5 N. A. LYBEGK.

OYSTER DREDGING MACHINE.

. I APPLIOATIOILIILED JAN. 23, 191 1. 1,070,27 1

Patented Aug. 12, 19-13.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

WIT/158858 N ATTORNEYS COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0.,wAsH|NaToN. D. c.

' N. A. LYBEGK.

OYSTER DREDGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 11111.23, 1911.

Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

ATTORNE Y8 N. A. LYBEOK. OYSTER DREDGING MACHINE.

- APPLICATION FILED JAN. 23, 1911.

1,070,271. Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

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ATTORNEYS COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CID-,WASHINOTON. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

NELS A. LYBECK, OF BRISTOL, RHODE ISLAND.

OYSTEB-DREDGING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, NELS A. LYBEGK, a citizenof the United States, and a resident of Bristol, in the county ofBristol and State of Rhode Island, have invented anew and ImprovedOyster-Dredging Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description.

Among the principal objects which the present invention has in view are:to provide a continuous acting dredging excavating and elevatingmechanism which may be attached or carried by a vessel of usualconstruction; to provide a machine of the character described which maybe adapted for operation upon any of the usual vessels; to provide asystem of excavating and elevating mechanisms arranged to operate on awide-spread path extended below and to both sides of the supportingvessel; to provide a system of flexibly connected laterally extendeddredging tools and delivery devices connected therewith for propellingthe product of said dredging tools to said elevating mechanism; toprovide excavating and elevating mechanisms adapted for pivotalconnection to the said vessel at the rear thereof to push the dredgingtools connected therewith from the stern portion of the vessel; and toprovide a mounting for the excavating and elevating mechanisms of thecharacter set forth adapted for attachment to a supporting vessel in amanner to permit the roll and pitch of the vessel without disturbing thearrangement of said mechanisms on the sea bottom.

One embodiment of the present invention is disclosed in the structureillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like characters ofreference denote corresponding parts in all the views, and in whichFigure 1 is a side view of a sea going vessel constructed and arrangedin accordance with the present invention, and having attached theretooyster dredging tools and elevator conveyers; Fig. 2 is a plan view ofthe same; Fig. 3 is a front view of the same; Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are alongitudinal vertical section of a vessel of the character described,constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention; Fig.7 is a cross section taken on the line 77 in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a crosssection taken on the line 8-8 in Fig. 4; Fig. 9 is a cross section takenon the line 99 in Fig. 5; Fig. 10 is a vertical section taken on theline Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 23, 1911.

Patented Aug. 12,1913.

Serial No. 604,232.

1010 in Fig. 6; Fig. 11 is a detail view, on an enlarged scale and invertical section, of a fragment of the bow of the vessel, showing thebow port in open position; Fig. 12 is a detail view in plan, and on anenlarged scale, showing the clustered arrangement of the dredging tools,the group to the right of the figure being shown with the gathering hoodremoved; Fig. 13 is a vertical section taken on the line 1313.in Fig.12; and Fig. 14 is a detail view in vertical section taken on the line1414 in Fig. 12.

In an accompanying application, filed the 6th day of January, 1911,bearing Serial No. 601,062, entitled Submarine cultivator and harvester,I have described a preferred form of construction and arrangement of amachine for cultivating and tending submarine beds, and particularlythose devoted to the propagation of oysters. Also, in said application Ihave described and claimed means for fishing for starfish, 'crabs, andsimilar inhabitants of the sea which usually float directly above orrest upon the sea bottom. I have indicated, in the above referred toapplication, that other tools than that disclosed in the saidapplication could be employed in conjunction with the machine hereindescribed. One of the tools referred to is disclosed in the accompanyingdrawings, to wit, the dredging scoop. In the application above referredto the vessel is built especially for the business to which it isemployed. In the present application the vessel may be of any suitabletype, the cultivating and harvesting attachments being applied thereto.

The oessel.ln the accompanying drawings, the vessel 21 is of anysuitable construction, having a hold 22. The hold 22 is altered byconstructing therein inclined hopper sides 23, 23, which are disposed,as best seen in Fig. 8 of the drawings, to guide the contents heldbetween the said sides upon a centrally disposed platform 24. Theplatform 24 is provided at suitable intervals with delivery openings 25,

25, normally closed by slide doors 26, 26. It is through the openings25, 25 that the bin 27 formed by the sides 23, 23is emptied, the saiddoors delivering directly upon a belt conveyer 28. The belt conveyer 28is.

cles raised with the oysters, for the dredging of which the presentmachine is employed.

The vessel 21 is provided with a deck house 30. The deck house 30 isprovided for the operation of the loading conveyer 90. Inter-posedbetween the forward deck house 30 and the after deck house 32 is formedan open space for midships gangway in which is pivotally suspei'ided thecradle frame The bow of the vessel 21 is pierced and normally closed bya port door 3 1. Through the port which is closed by the door 34: isdelivered the load contained within the vessel 21.

The vessel 21 is self -propelled, being driven by an engine 35 and ascrew propeller 36 connected therewith. Means for operating andcontrolling the engine and propeller connected therewith are not shownin the accompanying drawings. Any suitable means may be adopted whichwill accomplish the desired result. If the vessel 21 be devoted to thetrade herein mentioned, it is preferred that the same he provided with aseries of propellers 37, 37 disposed,

shown particularly in Fig. 1 of the drawings, on the port side of thevessel, being constructed at the ends of shafts 38, which are preferablyconnected to independ ent prime movers, such as the motors 39, 39 shownin Fig. 7 of the drawings. The side wall of the hull of the vessel iscut away, as shown at 40, if the propellers be not extended from theside of the vessel, in order that the water may flow behind the saidpropellers to be forced laterally from the vessel, forcing the samebro-ad side. The dynamo for operating the various motors is indicated bythe numeral 41, as seen in Fig. 5 of the drawings, and is preferablydirectly connected to the engine 42 by which the operating anddistributing apparatus of the harvester are driven. The vessel isprovided with a cabin or pilot house 43, and the various circuits forcontrolling independently or in batteries the motors 39 are carried tothe pilot house to be there operated by the pilot or person in charge ofthe vessel.

In the employment of the vessel 21 the oysters are usually delivered toa tender which is trailed in the rear of the vessel a stern port openingat being provided for the extension therethrough of suitable chutes orbelt conveyers.

The cratZZe.The cradle consists of the f *ame 33, the floor 45 whereofsupports the engine l2 and dynamo 1:1. The frame is pivoted in heavybearings 46, l6integrally formed with and extended from the heads of theshaft bearings 47, 117. Upon the bearings 16 the cradle is pivoted, thewei ht of the engine and dynamo maintaining the cradle in a constantlyvertical disposition irrespective of the roll of the vessel 21. Shouldthe weight of the engine and dynamo mentioned be insuflicient tomaintain the equilibrium of the cradle, this weight may be augmented byany suitable and most convenient method. The frame 33 is extendedtransverse the vessel 21, and is provided with extension frames havingside pieces d8, 48, the said frames extending beyond the side of thevessel to overhang the same to receive in pivoted connection theelevators 1-9, 19. The elevators 19, ll) are disposed in parallelrelation to the keel of the vessel, extending adjacent the sides of thevessel and projected from near the stern to the bow thereof. It. is toprevent the elevators l9 swinging against the side of the vessel thatthe cradle provided with the booms 50, 50. The booms 50, are extendedlaterally, and are secured by means of guy lines 51, 51 from whipping,the said guy lines being anchored at 52, 52 on a boom provided for thatpurpose. The booms 50, 50 are connected at 53, 53 to the elevators 19,49 by means of guy lines 54-, 5-51. This rigging prevents the elevatorsl9 striking upon the hull of the vessel 21 which would operate todestroy the vessel or ele' vators.

The distributing 77t-6Gh6t7ti877t.-Tl1(3 distributing mechanism isemployed to receive the oysters and attached or allied fish or seacreatures as delivered from the elevators t), 419. The elevators 49, 49are pivoted between stanchions 55, 55. The upper ends of the elevatorsextend above and over the drapers 56, 56. The drapers 5G, 56 areextended over rollers 57, 57 and 58, 58. The drapers 5G, 56 are extendedabove the dis tributing conveyer 59. The conveyor 59 is driven by aroller 60, to which a transmission shaft 61 is operatively connected.The

shaft G1 has connection with the roller substantlally similar to theconnection be tween the said shaft and the main driving shaft (32, whichis directly connected by a sprocket belt 63 with the driving shaft ofthe engine -il2. The transmission from the driving shaft 62 to thetransmission shaft (31 is through two loose bevel gear wheels (34, 65.The gear wheels (34 and 65 are operatively engaged by a double coneclutch (i6 keyed to the shaft 62 and slidably, to engage alte.r natelythe one or other of the gear wheels (3-1, (55. According as the clutch(it; be engaged with the gear wheel 6 L or 65 the conveycr 59 is movedto deliver its contents to a chute G7 or chute G8. The chutes 7 and ()8are each provided with a perforated bottom (39, 69. It is through theperforations in the bottoms 69, (39 that the fees, so styled, of theoysters are delivered. These foes are principally the sea creaturesknown as borers. Larger fees, such as starfish, are manually extractedfrom the belt of the conveyor 59 as the same pass from the deliverystation of the drapers 56 to the chutes 67, 68. It will be understoodthat any small particles, such as refuse or pebbles, which may be liftedby the dredgers and delivered by the elevators and drapers upon theconveyer 59, are passed through the perforations of the chutes 67 and68. Directly below the chutes 67 and 68 are disposed saddles 70, 70. Thesaddles 7 O, 70 are constructed in the form of double chutes, as bestseen in Fig. 9 of the drawings, each leading to a hatchway 71, 71through whence the refuse and foes are delivered to conveyer belts 72,72. The belts 72, 72 extend from the forward saddle 70 to the bin 29into which they deliver the load carried thereon. In this manner therefuse is eliminated from the oysters as the same are passed to theforward bin 27. The rearmost saddle 70 delivers directly into the bin 29through openings in the deck.

Under the chute 68 are supported smaller chutes 73, 7 3, the convergedopenings whereof are disposed directly above the saddle 70, protectingin this manner the lower end of .the conveyer 74 and the powertransmission mechanism for driving the drapers 56, 56 and the conveyers74, 74. The drapers 56, 56 are driven by the rollers 58, 58, upon theends of which are bevel gear wheels 75, which are connected with a shaft76 extended transverse the cradle, reaching to the lateral extremesthereof. Midway of the shaft 76 is a fixed bevel gear wheel 77, to whichis geared a matched bevel gear wheel 78. The gear wheel 78 is mounted onthe end of a shaft at the opposite end whereof a gear wheel 79 isfixedly connected. The gear wheel 79 is meshed with a gear wheel 80fixedly mounted on the shaft 62. Thus, whenever the shaft 62 is driven,the rotation whereof is constant and always in one direction, thedrapers 56, 56 are caused to travel constantly and ever upward.

The conveyer 74 is driven by a roller 81, which is connected by means ofa sprocket chain 82 to a counter-shaft 83. The shaft 83 is disposedtransverse the vessel and at an angle of 90 to the shaft 62 to which itis operatively connected by means of matched bevel gear wheels 84 and85, the former of which is fixedly mounted on the shaft 83 and thelatter fixedly mounted on the shaft 62.

A drum 86 forms the outer and upper support of the conveyer 74, and isdriven by the said conveyer. A drum 87 supports the inner end of theconveyer 88, which is extended through the port 44, and by which thedredged product is delivered from the vessel 21 and to a followingtender. The drums 86 and 87 are operatively connected by a sprocketchain 89.

With the operation of the engine 42 the shaft 62 is constantly operated,turning in unison therewith and constantly in one direction the belts ofthe elevators 49, the drapers 56, 56, the conveyer 74 and the conveyer88. In accordance with the disposition of the clutch 66 the conveyer 59is 0perated in unison with the said drapers and conveyers, but in eithera direction to deliver the product to the chute 68 and from thence overthe conveyors 74 and 88 to the rearwardly disposed tender, or forwardlyover the chute 67 to deliver the same upon the belt 90 of the loadingmechanism.

The loading meahcm'ism.The loading mechanism consists primarily of theelongated endless belt 90. The belt 90 is supported by main rollers 91,92 and in suitable intermediate devices. The roller 92 is operated bythe shaft 62. The transmission mechanism connecting the said roller andshaft consists in the belt 150, the countershaft 151 and the miter gears152 operatively connecting the shafts 151 and 62, s seen best in Fig. 5.The upper reach of the belt 90 is supported in part by the loaddistributer. The load distributer is best seen in Figs. 4 and 8 of thedrawings, and consists in uprights 93, 93, cheek pieces 94", 94 and aconnecting push board 95 and chutes 96. The guide rails 94, 94 supportthe distributers and double extended chutes 96, 96 thereof which aredisposed below the upper fold of the belt 90 where the same crosses overa roller 97. Disposed below and slightly to the rear of the roller 97 isa second roller 98, back of which the belt 90 is reeved, substantiallyas shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. By reason of this arrangement theload carried on the belt 90 is deposited upon the chute 96 to bedistributed laterally thereby within the deck house 30. Also, it will beobserved by reference to the drawings, the material is deposited to thefar side of the push board 95. Communicating between the deck house 30and the bin 27 at frequent intervals are hatchways 99, through which thematerial is delivered into the bin 27.

In the operation of the loading mechanism the evener is manually placedat the forward end of the deck house 30. lVhen the conveyer 59 is sodriven as to deliver the product upon the belt 90 the said product isdumped from the belt as the same passes over the roller 97. The doublechute 96, 96 delivers the product evenly to both sides of the medianline of the belt 90. As the deck house 30 becomes filled with theproduct the same is precipitated through the hatchway 99 into the bin27. It is not until the bin 27 below the first of the hatchways 99 iscompletely filled that the load begins to raise upon the deck formingthe floor of the house 30 on the far side of the push board 95. It willbe observed that the push board 95 is faced with an outwardly curvedmetal plate 100, shaped to receive the weight of the load. When theweight of the product on the push board 95 is sufficient to move thesame, the push board is forced backward from the forward end of thehouse toward the conveyor 59. This operation proceeds relativelyactively until. the second of the hatchways 99 is exposed. The productis then precipitated through the said second hatchway, until thatsection of the bin 27 being filled, the product backs up into the house30 forward of the push board, to again gradually crowd the same backwardfrom the forward end of the house 30. In this manner the bin 27 and thehouse 30 are gradually filled to the load line, but to the load lineonly. Throughout the action of the evener it will be observed that theoperation is automatic, depending solely on the weight of the product onthe forward side of the push board The dredging mco/imt'ism.The dredgingmechanism shown in the accompanying drawings consists primarily of thedredging and delivery scoops shown respectively in Figs. 1 1 and 13 ofthe drawings. As shown in Fig. 12 of the drawings, the scoops are aranged in parallel order and in groups, a dredger scoop being disposed ateach side and on both sides of a delivery scoop. The scoops arepivotally connected by eyelets 101, 1.01, permitting thereby a. lateralplay of the scoops, harnessing in this manner a number of scoops toextend over a transverse area in the path, of and below the vessel. 21.,arranged to accommodate the irrcgularities of the shape of the bottom orbed. A set of scoops is connected to each of the elevators 19, 49.YVllen the two elevators 19, -19 are employed, as shown in theaccompanying drawings, the two sets of scoops are connected by a linkbar 102. The link bar 102 is pivotally mounted by eyelets 103, 103 tothe frame of the delivery scoops, as seen best in F 12 of the drawings.The link bar 102, in conjunction with the guy lines 5 1, 5. steady theaction of the elevators 49, 19, preventing any relative lateraldisplacement thereof with refer ice to the cradle and the v 1 21., whilepermitting 50 the needed flexibility on the part of the sets andcomponent members of the sets of scoops.

The dredging scoops are provided each with a metal. apron 1. The aprons104; 55 are each provided with a serrated or toothlihe forward edge 105.The edge 105 ma be substituted by a tine-like construction adapted torake under and lift the oysters from the bed. The body of the apron isinclined 60 baclcwardly, and is providid with a curled edge 100 extendedover transversely disposed conveyer belts 107. Disposed above the apron101 is a funne top 108. The funnel top 108 converges toward the upper 65edge of the apron 10-1 to form a throat or mouth for the delivery of theproduct upon the conveyor belt 107. The apron 10-1 and the top 108 arerigidly mounted upon the frame 109. The frame 109 is rectangular andelongated in shape, having provided for the support thereof wheels 110,110. EX- tended rearwardly from the frame 109 are handle bars 111, whichare connected at the rear by a cross brace 112 and by an inclined brace113, on the rearward end whereof is mounted the pivoting eyelets 101.Transversely disposed between the framing members of the frame 109 areheaders 114', 1141. Between the headers 11 1 are pivotally mounted therollers 115, supporting and operating the conveyor belts 107, 107.

To assist in creating the current of water needed to lift the oystersover the apron 10st is a hood 110. The hood 110 is pivotally connected,as shown in Fig. 1 1 of the drawings, to the top 108, and is pivotallyconnected to an adjusting arm 117 whereby the said hood is lifted togather thereunder the increased amount of water to cause the same tospurt through the constricted opening between the top 108 and the apron10st. The arms 117 are provided. with a series of perforations 118,through which a bolt 119 is passed for uniting the arm 117 to a post.120. The post 120 is braced by a corner brace 121, as shown. By movingthe bolt 119 to one or the other of the different perforations 118 thehood 110 may be lifted or lowered to increase or diminish the force ofthe current trapped and directed through the throated opening betweenthe top 108 and the apron 104-. The current thus produced between thetop 108 and the apron 104: lifts the oysters on. the apron 10d upwardover the same and above the conveyor belt 107. It is to prevent theoysters being carried over the belt 107 that 1 have provided the screenbacking 122.

The conveyor belts 107, 107 are extended laterally into the passages123, 123 of the delivery scoop. The belts 107 are driven by rollers 121, 124 which are pivotally mounted on the sides of the framing members125, 125 of the said delivery scoop. The delivery scoop is provided withan apron 120, at the lower end whereof is formed, a serrated edge 105,the function whereof is the same as the apron 10 1- above described.Disposed between the framing members 125, 125 is a table 127, upon theinner end whereof the said conveyor belts 107, 107 converge and depositthe load carried thereby.

It is to produce a delivering current over the table 127 that T haveprovided a hood 128, the top 129 whereof is raised or lowcred, as thecase may he, by shifting the bolt 119 in the perforations 118 to shortenthe distance between the eyelet 130 at the nose of the hood and the post131 at the rear of the structure.

The operation of the hood 128 is in all respects similar to theoperation of the hood 116. The water current created by the employmentof the hood 128 differs only from that produced by the hood 116 in thatthe product delivered by the belts 107, 107 upon the table 127 is firstswept from the said table into the throat formed by the upper edge ofthe apron 126, and together with the product being delivered by theapron 126, the current wherefor is produced for the under side of thetable 127, is delivered upon the belt 132 of the elevators 49.

The elevators 49, 49 are pivotally mounted at 133 on each side of thevessel 21, and at the lateral extremes of the cradle above described.The elevators are provided with a ridge-shaped cover 134, by means ofwhich the pressure of the water due to the progressof the vesseltherethrough is deflected from the belts 132, preventing the productbeing swept from the said belts. It will be understood that the belts132, 132 are formed from any suitable open mesh or linked construction.The belts 132, 132 are driven by the shaft 153, the miter gear wheels154, 155, 156 and 157 and the transmission shaft 158 of the drivingmechanism. The belts 107, 107 are operatively connected with the belts132 to operate in unison therewith by means of meshed miter gear wheels146, 146. By these gear wheels the shaft on which are mounted therollers 124, 124 is operatively connected with the lowermost guideroller of the belts 132, 132. It will be understood that the shafts onwhich the lowermost idler rollers for the belts 132 are mounted alsoconstitute a pivot connection for the elevators 49 and the dredging anddelivery scoops. The arrangement of the gear wheels 146 and the shaftsconnected therewith is such that the movement of the two oppositelydisposed conveyers 107 is toward the common center.

The weight of the elevators 49, 49 is counter-balanced by the deadweights 135, 135. The weights 135, 135 are disposed at the ends ofcables 136, which are reeved over pulleys 137 in a mast 138. The cables136, 136 are guided through the boom frame 139, 139 and are anchored atthe eyelets 140, 140 on the rails of the elevators 49, 49. It will benoticed by reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings that the pull of thecables 136 upon the ends of the elevators 49 is in a forward liftingdirection. Whenever the vessel is at a standstill the weights 135 liftthe lower and forward end of the elevator to near the surface of thewater before the weight is counter-balanced. It will be noticed that theweights 135 may be augmented or decreased. When, however, the vessel ispropelled ahead the pressure of the water against which the elevatorsare pushed forces the ends of the elevators to the bottom, causing thescoops connected therewith to rest lightly in operative position uponthe said bottom. By reason of this construction the scoops are protectedagainst being wrecked by striking upon any obstruction in the bottom orbed.

To lift the elevators 49, 49 the cable 141 is provided. The cable 141 ispivotally connected to the bridle 142, and is reeved over suitablepulleys in the boom frame 139, and over a pulley 143 to be carried tonear the deck and secured upon a belaying block 144. When the free endof the cable 141 is drawn upon the scoop bearing end of the elevatorsare lifted. hen in the course of this operation the elevators strikeunder the boom frame 139, this is lifted, pivoting on the pivot pins145.

It may be remarked in this connection, that the oyster dredging anddelivery scoops herein shown and described may be substituted for anyother suitable and desired tool for cultivating or harvesting theproduct planted or found at the sea bottom.

The unloading mccham'sm.-Under the bins 27 and 29, and in line with theopenings 25, 25 therein, is the belt conveyer 28. The conveyer 28 isthat which is provided to unload the vessel 21. The conveyer 28 deliversdirect to the elevator conveyer 147, the upper end whereof is disposedadjacent to the port opening closed by the port door 34. It is whenunloading the vessel 21 that the elevators 49, 49 and boom frame 139 arelifted in line with the mast 138. In this manner the port opening isfreed for the introduction of the suitable draper or conveyer, 147either operatively connected with the roller 146 or with a suitabledriving mechanism located on the shore, dock or lighter employed toreceive the load.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. An oyster dredging machine embodying afloating supporting vessel having a storage hold and an elevatingmechanism, comprising a cradle pivotally mounted upon said vessel tooverhang the sides thereof; a plurality of elevator conveyers pivotallymounted upon said cradle at the extended ends thereof; and a pluralityof dredging tools pivotally mounted on said elevator conveyers, saidtools being adapted to lift the product being handled for delivery tosaid elevator conveyers.

2. An oyster dredging machine embodying a floating supporting vesselhaving a storage hold and an elevating mechanism, comprising a cradlepivotally mounted upon said vessel to overhang the sides thereof; aplurality of elevator conveyers pivotally mounted upon said cradle atthe extended ends thereof; and a plurality of dredging tools pivotallymounted on said elevator conveyers and adapted, to be disposed acrossthe path (Yf said vessel, said tools being adapted to lift the productbeing handled. for delivery to said elevator conveyors.

3. An oyster dredging machine embodying a floating supporting vesselhaving a storage hold and an elevating mechanism, comprising a cradlepivotally mounted upon said vessel to overhang the sides thereof; aplurality oil elevator conveyers pivotally mounted. upon said cradle atthe extended ends thereof; a plurality of dredging tools pivetallymounted on said elevator conveyers, said tools being adapted to lift theproduct being handled for delivery to said elevator conveyors; adistributing mechanism embodying conveyers operatively mounted on saidcradle "for delivering the product in various directions; and a drivingmechanism for said distributing mechanism.

4:. an oyster dredging machine embodying a floating supporting vesselhaving a storage hold and an elevating mechanism, comprising a cradlepivotally mounted upon the hull of said vessel to overhang the sidesthereof, said cradle being disposed near the stern of said vessel; aplurality of elevator conveyers embodying rigid boom-like structurespivotally mounted upon said cradle and adapted to extend beyond the bowof said vessel; and a plurality ot' dredging tools pivotally mounted onsaid elevator conveyors, said tools being adapted to lift the productbeing handled for delivery to said elevator conveyors.

An oyster dredging machine embodying a floating supporting vessel havinga storage hold and an elevating mechanism, comprising a cradle pivotallymounted upon the hull of said vessel to overhang the sides thereof, saidcradle being disposed near the stern of said vessel; a plurality ofelevator conveyers embodying rigid. boom-like structures pivotallymounted upon said cradle and adapted to extend beyond the bow of saidvessel; and a balancing mechanism for supporting the tool bearing endsof said elevator conveyors, said mechanism embodying a connecting cablereeved over the ves sel structure and a compensating Weight suspendedupon the free end of said cable.

6. An oyster dredging machine embodying a floating supporting vesselhaving a storage hold and an elevating mechanism, comprising a cradlepivotally mounted upon the hull of said vessel to overhang the sidesthereof, said cradle being disposed near the stern of said vessel; aplurality of elevator conveyors embodying rigid boom-like structurespivotally mounted upon said cradle and adapted to extend beyond the bowof: said vessel; a balancing mechanism for supporting the tool bearingends of said elevator conveyers, said mechanism embodying a connectingcable reeved over the vessel structure and a compensating Weightsuspended upon the tree end of said cable; and a cover for said elevatorconveyors adapted to receive the pressure of the Water When the machineis moved forward to sink the tool bearing end of the same.

In testimony whereof- I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

NELS A. LYBEGK.

lVitnesses:

PHILIP D. RoLLHAUs, E. F. MUnnooK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C.

